The mission of the Grout Museum District is to provide a better understanding of our world by collecting, preserving and interpreting history and illustrating scientific principles. The Grout Museum collects, preserves and interprets cultural and natural history of the region; the Rensselaer Russell House Museum and the Snowden House preserve and interpret elements of the Victorian age; the Bluedorn Science Imaginarium provides exhibitions and programming that inspire the study of the sciences. And the Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors the service and sacrifice of Iowa veterans from the Civil War to present.
Grout Museum of History and Science
Pretend you’re a pioneer. Reach for the stars. Explore your ancestry. Your curiosity will take you far.
The Grout Museum of History and Science features permanent and continually changing exhibitions of area history, regional flora and fauna, and the only public planetarium in Northeast Iowa, which holds weekly shows. [view the current schedule]
It’s also home to the James, Robert and Dick McKinstry Funded Library, northeast Iowa’s largest genealogical reference library. The library also contains an archival collection numbering 21,617 maps, photographs, oral histories, audio/video tapes, clippings and documents relating to the Cedar Valley.
Rensselaer Russell House Museum
The Rensselaer Russell House Museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is often cited as Iowa’s finest example of Italianate architecture. This lovely brick structure, lived in by three generations of the Russell family, is one of the oldest homes in Black Hawk County. Guided tours bring it to life with original furnishings and stories of the Russell family and their experiences in Victorian Waterloo.
Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium
Pet a 12-foot python. Fire an air cannon. Create your own laser show. To satisfy your curiosity about physical science, this is the place to go.
Science comes alive at the Carl A. and Peggy J. Bluedorn Science Imaginarium, a three-floor, interactive science center. Here, hands-on exhibits show how science affects your everyday life. Science Demonstrations get you even more involved in the action, and show you how exciting science can be.
Envision living in Victorian elegance. Wander through picturesque gardens. Surround yourself in sophistication and grace. Here, you’ll step into another time and place.
Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum
The Sullivan Brothers Iowa Veterans Museum honors the service and sacrifice of all Iowa veterans from the Civil War to present. Step into their stories through traditional exhibits, interactive activities and an electronic Wall of Honor. The Museum consists of over 35 interactive exhibits. Interviews collected via the Voices of Iowa Oral History Project total over 1,500.
